Santa Sofia monumental complex, Medieval religious complex in Benevento, Italy.
The Santa Sofia complex is a medieval building in Benevento centered around a church with a circular floor plan. The church stands supported by six columns taken from ancient structures, spanning approximately 23.5 meters in diameter.
The complex was built around 760 under Duke Arechis II as part of his plan to establish Benevento as a center of Lombard power in southern Italy. This building project marked a key moment in the city's rise to importance during the medieval period.
The church displays remaining medieval frescoes with religious scenes that visitors can observe while walking through the interior. The architecture visibly blends elements from Roman, Germanic, and Byzantine building traditions.
The site now houses three sections of the Museo del Sannio, where visitors can explore artifacts spanning from prehistoric times through the Samnite period. The collection provides a good overview of the region's longer history.
The floor layout with its central dome design follows the architectural concept of Constantinople's Hagia Sophia, adapted to a much smaller scale. This adaptation shows how Byzantine design principles were replicated in early medieval Italian architecture.
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